Dial-indicator for combination-locks



H. G. BALTHASER. DIAL INDICATOR FOR COMBINATION LOCKS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I7, 19H.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

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I To all whom it may concern:

HARRY G. BALTHASAR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A CORPORATION OF MIS- DIAL-INDICATOR FOR COMBINATION-LOCKS.

Original application filed April 16, 1917, ser i 110,162,308.

Serial No. 191,690.

Be it known that I, HARRY Gr. BALTHA'SAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDial-Indicators for Combination-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This is a division and continuation of an application filed by me April 16, 1917 serially numbered 162,308, the same eventuating in Patent 1,253,770, dated January 15, 1918.

This invention is a dial-indicator for com-- bination locks wherever used, but is herein shown and described as applied to the prevention of operation of internal combustion engines. It is intended especially to prevent theft, misappropriation, or misuse of motor vehicles and boats, aeroplanes, and the like.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which like numbers of reference denotelike parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a sectional view showin this device in relation to the instrumentcard of a motor-Vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the dial-indicator and button for turning the same. taken on the line 22 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at part of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by line 3-3 in Figs. 1 and 4 and showing the detail of the index notches on the reverse side of the dial-indicator plate;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing this device in relation to the instrument-board of a motor-vehicle of a particular type requiring the tilting from the vertical or horizontal of parts of the said device, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 8.

Upon the instrument-board 1 or at any other convenient or suitable place is suitably supported the combination dial plate 2, which is revoluble in both directions alternately by means of the knob 3, as is common in such constructions when used in safes and the like.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a second plate 4 is placed between the combination dial plate and the instrument-board 1 with a fiat spring 5 fastened thereto at 6, the said Specification of Letters Patent.

-Patented Jan. e, 1920.

spring having a pointer or tooth 7 adapted to engage notches 8 and 9 on the inner side of dial plate 2, which notches are shownin Fig. 3. Notch 9 is of especial depth. Thus,

when dial 2 is rotated, the operator will notice the entrance of pointer 7 into each of the notches 8 and will thereby be able to count the combination, but upon finishing the working .of the combination will know by'the feeling'that the pointer 7 has seated in the deeper notch 9. The combination being thus indicated to the operator'by the feeling of pointer 7 riding over notches and the indication by the deeper notch 9 of its having been completely worked keeps the secret of the combination, as it is impossible for any one sitting along side the operator to know what the combination is, as there is nothing visible on the exterior of the dial that will allow such observer to follow the working of the combination.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the spring IO-is attached by screw 11 to arm 12 of plate 13, and the pointer 14 on spring 10 operates through an opening 15 in arm 12 to engage notches 8 and 9 (as described in connection with Fig. 1) on the reverse or inside of dial plate 2.

The face of dial plate 2 may, if desired, bear spaced marks which may coincide With the notches upon the reverse side shown in Fig. 3 or be misleadingly placed not opposite the same, or the face of the saiddial may be unmarked, inasmuch as the real working of the combination will not be by sight, but b-y'the feeling of the pointer 7 (in Fig. 1) or pointer 14 (in Fig. 4) riding into and out of the notches on the reverse side of dial 2.

Shaft 16 (the main part of which is not shown in the drawings) is a flexible shaft.

for operating a permutation tumbler lock 18 of any ordinary or desired construction, which look is not shown in detail in the drawings, and shaft 17 is a non-flexible shaft for the same purpose in a different type of machine, thesaid shafts 16 and 17 being controlled by knob 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, a bushing 29 having a collar 19 passes through the instrumentboard 1 and is screw-threaded at 20 to receive the screw-threaded cap 21 having the collar 22. The bushing 29 and the cap 21 OURI, ASSIGNOB TO INTERSTATE TOOL -AND Divided and this application filed "September pintle 24 by a tapered pin 28 prevents retraction of knob 3 and pintle 24 through the bushing 29. Shaft 16 is held from retraction from cap 21 in any suitable manner,

but is caused to rotate With pintle 24: by the cooperation of the flattened parts 25 and 26.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the following claim:

Claim:

In a combination lock, control and indicating means for use on automobiles, a bear ing plate-having a portion adapted for at provide a bearing plate through which the lock-shaft is adapted to extend, a dial member secured on the end of the lock-shaft, and rotatably bearing on and within the edge outline ofsaid bearing plate, said dial member being formed in the face engaging the bearing plate with a series of notches, and a spring strip removably secured to the under side of the bearing plate and concealed thereby, said spring strip I being formed at the end remote from its securing means with a detent normally projecting through an opening in the bearing plate and in the path of movement of said notches, whereby said detent will successively engage member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. a

HARRY G. BALTI-IASAR.

said notches in'the movement of the dial 

